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Books not recyclable? Indeed!

Can we recycle books? Well…. if you remove the cover and spine from the pages inside of each book, only then you can place them with other papers in your recycling. Unfortunately, the cover and the spine have to go in the garbage. Books are, in fact, one of the top five contaminants of recycling programs in BC.  

It doesn’t take long to fill your bookshelves. It is usually a good place to start the decluttering process. But wait! What to do with them? Time to figure out where to donate, consign and sell!

Trash to Treasure Days

The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) hosts two T2T days! Your unwanted books & household items (gently used and in good working order) can be a treasure for someone else. Create a T2T sign or print a free one  (add the link) from RCDK website.

Thrift Stores

Yes, it is great to share books in order to give them a second chance to be read but know that not all books are wanted. In fact, all the store managers I interviewed said they were receiving many bad donations resulting in books ending up in their garbage. They also wish that book donations be made in smaller, more manageable quantities.

Donation No, nos :

• Text books, 

• Dictionaries, 

• Books with writing inside

• Cook books (unless it is a Whitewater one!)

• Older books

• Encyclopedias

Toy Library, Childcare Resource and Referral (CCRR): 804 Stanley St, (250) 352-0407

- Call first. Gently used kids books only. Multi Language accepted. Small donations only.

Books Everywhere, Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (250) 352-3218

Very neat thing in Nelson;  a lovely project since 2012. You can borrow a book from one of their boxes, you can read it at the location or you can take it, borrow it, pass it to a friend and return it to any one of their boxes.

Where to find those boxes? Oso Negro, Kootenay Bakery, Cowan, Family Place, Community Complex, Nelson Family Eyecare,Plaza Laundromat, Touchstone Museum. You can donate books to the boxes. They need your book donations as the books are mostly going out. 

Nelson Library

- Accepts donations of books five years old or newer, recognizable classics and books of high interest. Book donations are accepted at the front desk. Check out their free books section in the entrance but don’t leave your donations there.

West Kootenay Francophone Association (AFKO)

- Accepts recent French books for adults and for kids. 

- Call first

- Check out their little free library outside

Play it Again Kids

- Consignment only. Looking for books in great shape, with very little wear, and free from scribbles, rips and missing pages. 

Packrat Annie’s

- They will give you money or credit in store. 

Facebook groups to sell, or donate

• Nelson Buy and Sell

• Nelson BC Parents Buy and Sell

Enjoy the feeling of giving back. 

Keep the habit of letting your books go and have a chance to be read over and over. 

Carefully select before donating.

Cover them from the rain.

Keep them out of the recycling or recycle them correctly!

Visit the map to find all these ressources, addresses and hours.

Any other place? Please share them with us.